Cross Country Opens 2008 Campaign - AuburnTigers.com - Auburn University Official Athletic Site

Cross Country Opens 2008 Campaign Tigers travel to Chattanooga, Tenn., Friday for Powerade Invitational

Sept. 3, 2008

AUBURN -

Auburn's men's and women's cross country teams will open the season Friday at the Powerade Invitational hosted by UT-Chattanooga.

For the second straight season, the Tigers will begin its campaign in Chattanooga, Tenn. In 2007 at the same event, Auburn's men captured the team title with Felix Kiboiywo and Simon Nyang finishing among the field's top 10. Kiboiywo took first place by completing the 5K course in 15:06 and Nyang was eighth in 15:32. Auburn's women tied for second in 2007 in Chattanooga and had three runners finish in the top 10. Holly Knight led the Tiger charge by completing the two-mile course in 11:04 and nabbing top honors. Laurel Pritchard was right behind her in seventh place, crossing the line in 11:30, followed by 10th-place finisher Amber Riley (11:38).

Head coach Peter Watson enters his fourth season at the helm of the Auburn cross country program and for 2008 he returns five men and eight women from a year ago. Kiboiywo and Knight headline the men and women's team, respectively. Embarking upon his junior season, Kiboiywo is the reigning NCAA South Regional champion and was the Tigers' lone NCAA Championships qualifier in 2007. Knight's rookie season was cut short due to injury, but she's back for her sophomore campaign in 2008. She was Auburn's top finisher in the four events she ran and earned a pair of top-10 finishes.

There is only one senior on the roster between the men and women's squads. Becca Bell, who did not compete in 2007, returns to the women's cross country team. Five juniors, one sophomore and four freshmen make up the men's team, while a single senior, a pair of juniors, four sophomores, one redshirt freshman compose the women's team.